Page 70 of Cherry Moon

Fuck. What should I do?

“We won’t be moving here,” she added. “We just can’t.”

I watched her shoulders sag—the last thing I wanted to see on my wedding day from the mother of the groom.

But Esther Dawson quickly straightened her spine and puffed out her chest. “Enough of this. I, we, just want you both to be in touch more. Not every day, but every other would suffice.”

I beamed at her. “Deal.”

“And more visits, which isn’t as easy, I know.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

We had a quick hug.

“I want to keep you boys in steaks as much as possible.”

My tummy grumbled. “All hail Queen Esther of the Steaks.”

She giggled, touching the side of my face with the back of her hand. “Have a fabulous day.”

Man, did I have the ultimate warm and fuzzies.

She paused at the door, turning to blow me a kiss. “See you out there.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

GABRIEL

Under the light of the Cherry Moon, the sky a regal purple, Akira approached me on a white carpet, walking down the aisle on his uncle’s arm, leaning on his cane.

His blue cane was covered in cupcake stickers. He wasn’t doing any plain old shit—his words, not mine.

Step by step, he came closer to becoming my husband, walking to the sounds of ‘By Your Side’ by Sade.

I tried my best to keep my tears at bay.

On either side of the aisle were white chairs for our handful of guests, the gazebo erected on the grassy section for the afterparty.

I looked out at our guests. Sarah, Mum, Dad, Polly, Lucy, and Ally—another uber werewolf and good friend.

She and Drew came as a package.

A wooden arch of white roses curved around me, with a table to the side for signing the marriage registry. I waited there with Zach, Riku, Drew, and my dad, who looked immaculate in his blue suit.

Look at you, Aki.

Just look at you.

The tenshi were watching, proven by the cherry blossom show above our heads.

Our creators weren’t quite our enemy, yet they were certainly not on our Christmas list. All that said, their candles burned around the property in thanks.

They weren’t monsters, just desperate. And desperation fueled bad decisions.

That’s how I saw it, anyway.

Aki arrived, given to me by Ryoka.